Introduction
Hi there! If you need to use a U.S. document abroad, getting an apostille in California is often a crucial first step.
At Virtual Same Day Marriage, we help clients every single day who are trying to navigate this process — and it can be confusing if you’ve never done it before!
Some of the most popular requests we see lately are for:
👉 Apostille for Mexico
👉 Apostille for Philippines
👉 Apostille for UAE
If you’re dealing with any of these destinations, or just want to know how to get an apostille in California, this post is for you. I’ll walk you through the process step by step — and show you how we can help make it fast and easy.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate that makes your U.S. documents legally recognized in other countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
👉 Without an apostille, many foreign governments, embassies, schools, and employers will not accept your California-issued documents.
👉 Countries like Mexico, Philippines, and UAE frequently require an apostille for U.S. documents such as:
✅ Birth certificates
✅ Marriage certificates
✅ Divorce decrees
✅ FBI background checks
✅ School transcripts
✅ Business documents
✅ Notarized powers of attorney
Why You Might Need to Get an Apostille in California
Here are some of the most common reasons clients request an apostille in California through our service:
✅ Moving abroad for work or retirement
✅ Applying for dual citizenship
✅ Marriage abroad or registering a U.S. marriage in another country
✅ Applying for student visas
✅ Conducting business internationally
✅ Adopting a child overseas
If your destination country is Mexico, Philippines, or UAE — you will almost always need to apostille your California documents first.
How to Get an Apostille in California — Step by Step
1️⃣ Identify Which Documents Need Apostille
First, determine which documents you need to apostille.
👉 If you’re applying for apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, or apostille for UAE, typical required documents include:
✅ Birth certificates
✅ Marriage certificates
✅ Divorce decrees
✅ School records
✅ Notarized documents (powers of attorney, affidavits, etc.)
✅ Business documents (articles of incorporation, corporate resolutions, etc.)
👉 Not sure which documents you need? Just ask — we help clients figure this out every day.
2️⃣ Obtain Certified or Notarized Copies
Next, make sure your documents are properly prepared:
👉 Vital records (birth, marriage, death) must be certified copies from the California Department of Public Health or county registrar.
👉 School records typically require notarization of the registrar’s signature.
👉 Notarized documents must be notarized by a California notary public before apostille.
👉 We routinely handle this step for clients requesting apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, and apostille for UAE.
3️⃣ Submit to the California Secretary of State
Once your documents are ready, submit them to the California Secretary of State for apostille processing.
👉 You can submit in person in Sacramento or Los Angeles — or mail your documents in.
👉 Processing times vary — see below.
👉 Many clients prefer using a professional service (like us!) to avoid delays and paperwork headaches, especially for urgent apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, or apostille for UAE needs.
Why Use a Professional Apostille Service?
I’ll be honest — while you can do this yourself, here’s what many clients tell us happens when they try:
❌ Incorrect notarization
❌ Wrong versions of documents submitted
❌ Delays due to small mistakes
❌ Long processing times (4+ weeks)
✅ When you use Virtual Same Day Marriage, here’s what you get:
✅ We verify that your documents are ready for apostille.
✅ We handle all paperwork and submission.
✅ We process apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, and apostille for UAE requests daily.
✅ We offer fast turnaround, including expedited services.
✅ We provide real-time updates and tracking.
How Long Does It Take?
👉 Standard processing through California Secretary of State: 2–4 weeks (if done on your own)
👉 Expedited processing with our service: 1–3 business days (depending on document readiness)
👉 We can often complete apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, and apostille for UAE in as little as 1–3 business days for clients.
How Much Does It Cost?
👉 California Secretary of State fee: $20 per document
👉 Professional service fee: $75–$300 depending on processing speed and complexity
👉 See our full guide: How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
Internal Link Suggestions
👉 How to Apostille a Passport Copy
👉 How to Apostille School Transcripts
👉 How to Apostille Corporate Documents
👉 How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
External Link Suggestions
👉 California Secretary of State — Apostille and Authentication
👉 Hague Apostille Convention — Official Country List
👉 U.S. Department of State — Apostille Requirements
FAQ Section
1. How do I get an apostille in California?
Obtain certified or notarized copies of your documents, then submit them to the California Secretary of State — or use a professional service to handle it faster.
2. How long does it take to apostille documents for Mexico, Philippines, or UAE?
Standard processing can take 2–4 weeks. We offer expedited service that can process your apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, or apostille for UAE in 1–3 business days.
3. What types of documents can be apostilled?
Common documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, FBI background checks, notarized affidavits, school records, and business documents.
4. Do I need to notarize my documents before apostille?
Some documents (such as notarized affidavits and school records) must be notarized. Vital records must be certified copies.
5. Can Virtual Same Day Marriage help with my apostille request?
Absolutely! We handle apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, apostille for UAE, and other country-specific apostille requests daily — with fast, accurate, professional service.
Conclusion
If you need to get an apostille in California, don’t risk delays or rejections — especially if you need an apostille for Mexico, apostille for Philippines, or apostille for UAE.
👉 We provide trusted apostille services for all types of California-issued documents.
👉 We offer fast turnaround with expedited options to meet your deadlines.
👉 We guide you through the entire process — and handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.
👉 Ready to get started? Contact Virtual Same Day Marriage today — we’ll help you get your documents apostilled quickly and correctly.
Alt Text Suggestions
- “Client preparing documents for apostille for Mexico processing”
- “Student submitting school transcripts for apostille for Philippines”
- “Business owner using apostille for UAE service for corporate documents”
- “California apostille process for notarized power of attorney”
